Wow this whole thread has been Darth whining about it.  Jesus dude its just an opiniated list man!

Well,

Every person weights different factors differently. So why bother complaining?

What if I wanted to organize a list by reliability? Well, 2600 would stomp all over the PS2, so the top 5 would look like this...

1. SNES
2. 2600
3. NES
4. Genesis
5. PS2

How about sheer number of titles (shovelware)*...

1. PS2
2. SNES
3. NES
4. 2600
5. Genesis

Arcade conversions (decent ones, not 2600 Pacman)...

1. Genesis
2. SNES
3. NES
4. PS2
5. 2600

Influence?

1. 2600
2. NES
3. PS2
4. Genesis
5. SNES

etc.








* No, I did not look up specific numbers.

Actually, when I think about it, this list is quite good. I can understand why some people disagree or don't understand it though. You need to have some knowledge in video game history and let go of "but my favourite is this or that because bla bla bla" and try and see which consoles influenced video games most.
I would've liked to see the Gamecube in a better spot because of personal bias, but if I put that aside I see why it didn't get a better rank.

About the Wii, I believe it has done enough to earn a top 10 spot but we'll have to wait and see if it actually deserves better or maybe worse. Time will tell.

i understand why the atari 2600 being ahead of the ps2. the atari 2600 was my 1st console. it is where my gaming habit was born. :)

The only problem I have with this listing is the fact that in some cases it seemed to focus on the console's library (PS2, Genesis), while other times it focused on what it did/brought to the industry (SNES, 2600, NES).

But, overall it wasn't bad, just not my order which can be found here for top 10.
http://www.vgchartz.com/forum/post.php?id=2558851

true- they didn't have a consistent standard for grading the consoles

@superchunk

you nailed my problem with the list

its erratic, confuzzled, muddled & really really lacking a direct & clear motive towards the rankings

Man it is hilarious watching fanboy breakdowns here and at the ign comments sections.

While most of the list is questionable (particularly the placings of PS3, xbox 360, Gamecube, and Wii). The top 5 is rock solid.

It seems most people here think PS2 deserves the top spot for selling a lot. If this was a list of success, Wii would be #1, but it isn't, this is a list of great games combined with industry impact.

Atari created the console games industry, but also destroyed it. Nintendo created the modern day gaming industry and had a load of great games to boot.

PS2? it sold a lot, and a lot, but that's about it. It had a great library of games which is why it's #3, but many would argue the SNES (#4) had a superior line up.

Keep in mind this is just one websites opinion, don't like it? go make your own list. Just because someone else doesn't drool over the same system as you do doesn't mean the list blows, it's their list after all.

Congratulations to the NES. We heart you.

Its funny, with all the bitching about the list, the industry would be nothing without the NES, SNES, 2600, PS1, PS2 or whatever, this was missed. "The Magnavox was the very first videogame console ever released". Thats a pretty big oversight, so by virtue of being the first it managed to make #25 on the list behind every other console listed.

If I was to make a biblical comparison, thats like listing Adam as the 25th most influential human in the Bible.